After
a prolonged journey of 24 hours we arrived here last Evening at a little after 9
o'clock. I wrote you on train at Cheyenne [Wyoming] - - telling you I had been
to the top of Pike's Peak on Monday. When we started we did not expect to
leave Colorado Springs until after eleven that night - but after our departure
for the mountain, Mr. Palmer received a communication from the Rio Grande
RR authorities that they would not be in working order for over a week -
and they would have to transfer us over the Union
Pacific to Ogden [Utah].

When
we got back to Colorado Springs , the omnibus, Mr. Palmer, and the non climbing
mountain members of the company were all anxiously waiting for us to go to the
Depot to take the train back to Denver. The
distance to the Depot was very short, so we caught the train leaving Colorado
Springs a little after 8 PM

If we
had not gone to Pike's Peak, we should have left at 2 PM. Well, I have been to
the top of Pike's Peak, and I am not sorry for it. It was the grandest sight I
ever saw. Had I known what a journey it was I should never dared attempt it -
but I started thinking it was about four or five miles, but when I had been
traveling about an hour up the narrow path, so narrow in some places that two
horses could not pass each other - I asked the guide how far it was, and he told
me it was 13 miles from the place where we mounted the horses.

I was
in for it, and had to make the best of it. The ascent takes about five hours,
and the descent about three hours - the trail is over rocks, streams, hill and
valleys. About half way up is a plateau of about 3 or 4 acres of level land.
Here we were made to dismount to rest the horses - and take a drink of ice cold
spring water. I felt pretty tired then, but as I did not want to spoil the
party, I made up my mind to continue the journey to the top - about 15 minutes
rest and we start again.

Now
the sun strikes us pretty hot & we all get nicely sunburned. We overtake a mule
train and have to follow it a couple of miles before we can pass it - the path
being narrow - and on either side very rocky.

At
last we dismount - we can scarcely stand - the air is so light - it makes
everyone dizzy. My mouth was parched - froth settled on my lips. I was
deathly sick, and for five minutes I thought my time had come. The guide helped
me over the rocks to the signal service house - gave me a cup of very strong
coffee without milk or sugar - and that revived me a little.

I
never felt such a strange sensation, sea sickness was nothing compared to it.
Two enlisted men are stationed at the Signal Service house to take temperatures,
currents &c &c. They must have a lively time of it in Winter. There is no
vegetation on the mountain top - nothing but rocks - square as if they had been
taken out of a quarry - carted and dumped there. They can be used for building
without any cutting or blasting.

The
Signal Service house is built of these stones & nicely boarded inside. The
house has five rooms: kitchen, dining room, sitting room and two bedrooms. A
very large stove in the sitting room was kept red hot & a fire in the kitchen.

It
was very cold and snow fell while we were there. A
photographer took a picture of the visitors who were there, some
sitting, others standing among the rocks. If good we are to have some sent to
us here.

The
fuel is brought on mule backs up the mountain - also food and anything else that
is wanted - a start has been made to have a railroad built up. I suppose the
endless chain is the kind intended but it will cost an awful amount of money to
complete it.

After
we were rested, and had seen all there was to be seen for that day, we were
taken back over the rocks to the horses. I felt rather weak but knew we had to
get back, so got on the horse and began the descent, which was much more
difficult than the climbing up. We reached the stables about half past six -
feeling pretty sore and tired.

I
think it has done me good and I would not mind going again - but I guess I never
shall have another opportunity. Daly's Co
are at this house - they close tomorrow night and we begin on Monday. The
Knights Templar are congregating - and by next week the city will be full -
5000 are expected with their wives and daughters. Hope darling you are keeping
well in health and happiness. Love and Kisses from your ever loving Mother